Sunday, July 10, 2011

Make Your Own Mixes

Here are a list of links for some great make your own mixes.  Making your own mixes and spice blends are a great way to save a little money; plus when you make your own you always know what the ingredient list is! Just click on the title to go to the recipe.

Spice Blends:
Dry Onion Soup Mix
Pumpkin Pie Spice
Taco Seasoning
Ranch Dressing Mix 
Chili Seasoning Mix

Convenience Foods:
Home Made Pancake Syrup
 Bagel Bite Pizzas
Crockpot Refried Beans
Frozen Fudge Pops
Frozen Smoothie Pops
Sweet and Condensed Milk
Granola Bars

Mixes:
Bisquick
Pancake Mix
Oatmeal Pancake Mix
Corn Muffin Mix
Muffin Mix
Hot Roll Mix
Hot Cocoa Mix
Yellow Cake Mix
Chocolate Cake Mix

Homemade Fudge Pops With Tutorial

I found the recipe for the fudge pops at allrecipes.com



Homemade Fudge Pops
(makes 12 frozen treats. I doubled the recipe to make 24 frozen treats.)

You can also find the recipe HERE

3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
4 cups milk ( I used 1% milk)
  • Stir together sugar, flour, and cocoa powder in a large sauce pan (I double the recipe, so I used  large pot)
  •  Stir in half of the milk into the dry mixture and whisk until completely combined and smooth.
  •  Stir in the rest of the milk.
  •  When the rest of the milk is completely incorporated. Heat on medium heat. 
  •  Stir the mixture constantly (so that it won't scorch) until it comes to a full rolling boil.

  • Continue stirring and allow the contents to boil for two minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool  until warm (about 20 minutes).
  •  Pour warm mixture into an empty (and clean) ketchup or syrup bottle. I do this because it is much easier to fill the molds.
  •  Fill each section of the mold about 7/8 full.  About 1/4 cup per mold.
  •  When all the molds are filled, place to mold top on each section.

  •  Of  course, I discovered that several of my tops are missing ( naughty children). I had to improvise by using four small plastic knives I dug out of my stash of plastic silverware.
  •  Place in the freezer until completely frozen ( I usually just let them stay in overnight).
  • To remove fudgesicles from the molds, run hot water over the molds for a minute or two, or let sit on the counter for five minutes before removing.
 If you don't own frozen pop molds you can use 4 ounce or 6 ounce clean yogurt containers. You can also use 4 ounce wax coated or plastic paper cups (if you use plastic cups you can wash and reuse them). Just line them up on a large cookie sheet. Craft sticks (found at most dollar stores) or small plastic knives work great for handles. To get your "handles" to set straight, chill the fudge pop mixture for one hour before inserting them.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Frugal Grocery Budget Stretchers

 Come join us this Thursday night to  learn simple ways to stretch you grocery dollar and feed your family. 
           
 Thursday, July 7th
6:30 pm
at the Church (2000 Fairway)

                                 Nursery will be provided